ENDOTOXIN

• Endotoxins

  • Lipopolysaccharide-lipoprotein complexes,

  released on cell lysis as part of the outer membrane of gram-negative Bacteria.

  extremely heat-stable

  • General; fever, diarrhea, vomiting
  • Moderately toxic in tens to hundreds of microgram amounts, rarely fatal
  • Relatively poor immunogens; immune
  • response not sufficient to neutralize toxin.
  • Encoded by chromosomal genes esponse against the toxin.